the da-da-da-diet

Man, dieting stinks.

Why is it that any time you ever go on a diet, all you can think about is FOOD and the food that you AREN'T "allowed" to eat?!

The Dairy/Soy Free Diet is different from any other diet you'll ever go on... because you're actually putting your BABY on a diet!  Even though he just drinks your milk, he's actually eating everything you are!  It's incredible how even the smallest amount of dairy or soy can affect a milk/soy protein intolerant baby.  That's why it's important to educate yourself on the sources of dairy and soy, both obvious and hidden, and steer clear of them in order to protect your baby and successfully continue nursing. 

When you have a hunch or are told that your baby is Milk/Soy Protein Intolerant, if you should choose to continue nursing, (which I make a case for here and here) you're going to have to change what you eat.  This can seem like a daunting task if you don't have the right tools to make it happen.

The key, in my opinion, is finding dairy and/or soy free foods that you LIKE to eat and STOCKING your pantry and fridge with them. 

You don't have to live off of mini carrots with no ranch for a year!

And don't pine away, thinking about all the things you CAN'T eat. Find some things you love and focus on those!  Try not to even think about the no-no's!  :)

 

Also, once you make the decision to accept the blessing of nursing and roll up your sleeves and stare Milk/Soy Protein Intolerance in the face, DON'T GET DISCOURAGED if you don't see results right away.   It may take two weeks or more of an elimination diet (cutting out dairy and/or soy) before the baby's intestines have a chance to heal and all of the milk and soy proteins are cleared from both the mama and the baby's systems.

It took 18 days of completely cutting out all traces of dairy and soy before we saw a difference in our second baby !  I was really close to giving up, but I'm so glad I stuck with it.  Just think if I had quit on day 15! or 16! Or 17!  For us, day 18 was the magic number.  It's different for every baby- but HANG IN THERE! YOU CAN DO IT!

If you try an elimination diet and it doesn't seem to work right away, don't give up!  It takes time!  And it's SO worth it in the end. 

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Stick with it! 

Some moms start out their elimination diet by cutting out just dairy. 

However, it's a good idea to eliminate BOTH dairy and soy for at least two weeks in order to give your baby time to heal.
The idea is to get the baby to "ground zero" and introduce things back in one at a time. 
At the two week mark, if you're seeing improvement, you can always eat some soy sauce with your sushi or drink a big ole' glass of soy milk in order to give a "challenge" and see if the baby has an adverse reaction to soy.  If you don't see any negative changes, then count yourself blessed that all you have to avoid is dairy.  At least you can still eat Chinese. :)

If your little one DOES show an intolerance to soy as well... 

it's OK.  

YOU CAN DO IT!   

It can be done.  

This website is just one of many that provides education, information and recipes.  It's a great place to start, but it's by no means all encompassing! Don't be discouraged.  Look at it as a challenge to yourself.  When you come out on the other end of it and you've shown this Milk/Soy Protein Intolerance who's boss, you will have quite the accomplishment under your belt!  Eating Dairy Free for Baby isn't for the faint of heart, but YOU CAN DO IT!   And you may even be able to be an encouragement to someone else, later on down the road!